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Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we find useful to our readersEvery single person, irrespective of their gender wants to stay and look youthful throughout the entirety of their life, isn’t it? Not one single person wants to witness the pesky age spots on face or any other part of their body. But, with that being said, age spots are a very common occurrence in every single person with their constant aging.
Age spots can be as vivid, frequent and scattered on your body depending on the kind of lifestyle and diet that one follows. While you may actually think how diet and lifestyle would affect the severity of age spots, it actually does. Not just that, it could very well be because of natural causes, be it exposure to the sunlight or altered pigmentation in the body; the possibilities are endless.
In this article, we are going to walk ourselves through the common yet effective natural remedies for age spots. If you have been consistently been affected with this issue being a hinder, this article is the perfect one for you to indulge into.
What are Age Spots?
Age Spots are the flat, brownish or even black spots that are littered across the skin. While the same is usually witnessed in old people, the same can also be evident in any person of any age group because of its varying amount of causes and reasons.
Apart from being known as age spots, they are also termed as liver spots, solar lentigines, senile lentigo etc.
While, just a few decades back, people had the common notion that only aged people are the ones who sport these age spots, the same has been regarded as a complete myth. When considering people who are at risk of developing age spots on their face and other parts of the body.
Some of the common strata who are at risk of developing age spots include:
- People over the age of 40
- People with fair skin
- People who are exposed to the sun a lot
- People who indulge in the use of tanning bed
How to Get Rid of Age Spots?
If you are here to learn about the ways to remove age spots, there are easy common natural remedies that we are going to go through in the next section as well as other over the counter remedies and other in-office treatments that are opted by a number of individuals who have the money to spare.
In this section, we are going to discuss about the common over-the-counter as well as the in-office treatments that actually provide with effective results.
Home Remedies to Remove Age Spots on Face
1. Apple Cider Vinegar for Age Spots on Face
Apple Cider Vinegar and its array of benefits for one’s overall health is not something unknown. Loaded with an array of antioxidants (R) in the form of Vitamin A, C and E, this is effective is lightening the appearance of the age spots.
It is also loaded with alpha hydroxyl acids which have beneficial impacts on skin lightening and treatment of dark spots on the skin. Apple Cider Vinegar is loaded with malic acid which has profound impacts on lessening the appearance of acne (R) on the face.
What to do?
- Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons of water in a bowl
- Add 1 teaspoon of honey to the mixture and mix everything well
- Using a cotton pad, apply it on the area of the age spots
- Leave it on for 10-5 minutes
- Wash it off with some water
How often?
- 2-3 times a week.
2. Coconut Oil for Age Spots on Face
Not just that, pairing this with castor oil further helps to double the benefits and impacts the overall outlook.
What to do?
- Mix 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and 1 tablespoon of castor oil in a bowl
- Apply this on the area of the age spot with a cotton swab
- Leave it on for 15-20 minutes
- Wash it off with some warm water to get rid of the oils off the face
How often?
- Every day for effective results.
3. Castor Oil for Age Spots on Face
Castor Oil is possibly one of the best ingredients that help lighten age spots effectively. The presence of omega-3 fatty acids goes beyond the deeper layers of the skin to flush out the accumulated dirt (R) that could be the reason behind the appearance of the dark spots.
It is also loaded with beneficial Vitamin E (R) properties which contribute to boosting the overall blood circulation to lighten the dark spots that are left behind because of the age spots. The most amazing thing of application of castor oil is the fact that it does not just help get rid of age spots naturally, it also helps prevent it from coming back again.
What to do?
- Pour a few drops of castor oil onto a cotton ball
- Apply this on the area of the age spots
- Leave it on for 15 minutes
- You can either leave it on or wash it off with some warm water
How often?
- Twice daily
4. Frankincense Oil for Age Spots on Face
Frankincense Oil has garnered a lot of attention over time because of its amazing benefits on the skin. This specific essential oil is loaded with boswellic acids which have beneficial impacts in treating skin damage (R) that are caused because of direct exposure to the sun, the age spots on the face being one of the very common examples of the same.
It is also very good with acne (R) and scarring which could also be contributing factors to the appearance of the age spots.
What to do?
- Mix a few drops of frankincense oil to your moisturizer
- Apply the moisturizer on the face like you normally would
How often?
- Twice daily.
5. Aloe Vera for Age Spots on Face
It also has depigmentation properties which help to reduce the appearance of the dark spots on the face that could possibly occur because of the excessive exposure to the UV rays of the sun. All in all, aloe vera has beneficial impacts, from moisturizing to healing the skin to help get rid of the age spots.
What to do?
- Cut open an aloe vera leaf
- Scoop the pulp out into a bowl
- Apply this on the area of the age spots
- Leave it on for 20 minutes
- Wash it off with some water
How often?
- Do this on a daily basis for effective results.
6. Buttermilk for Age Spots on Face
Buttermilk is the residue left behind after the butter is churned from the milk. It is a thick white and viscous residue and is sour in taste. You must be here thinking what exactly does buttermilk do to get rid of the age spots, right? Well, the lactic acid in the buttermilk is loaded with alpha hydroxyl acid (R) in it which helps to remove age spots (R) on face quickly and also aids in lightening its appearance.
It acts like a dermatological chemical peel that was mentioned in the “in-office treatments”.
What to do?
- Dip a cotton ball into a bowl filled with buttermilk
- Apply this on the area prone to age spots
- Leave it on for 20 minutes
- Wash it off with some water
How often?
Do this daily for promising results.
7. Shea Butter for Age Spots on Face
Shea butter is loaded with not just moisturizing but skin healing properties (R) as well which has beneficial impacts in treating the problems associated with age spots and related signs and symptoms of aging.
The Vitamin A concentration in the shea butter is what helps contribute to the lightening of the appearance of the age and dark spots on the face along with the blemishes.
What to do?
- Take 1 tablespoon of shea butter and slightly warm it to make it liquid
- Apply this on your tough spots on the face
- Leave on it if you want or wash it off with some water
How often?
Repeat this process twice daily for effective results.
8. Lemon Juice for Age Spots on Face
Pair it with some yoghurt and it makes a perfect concoction to get rid of age spots naturally. The mild presence of lactic acid in the yoghurt paired with the bleaching properties of the lemon (R) juice has amazing benefits.
What to do?
- Mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of yoghurt in a bowl
- Apply this on the face, especially on the areas that are prone to age spots
- Leave it on till it dries completely
- Wash it off with some water
- Pat dry the skin with a towel
How often?
- Do this 3-4 times a week for effective results.
9. Papaya for Age Spots on Face
Tyrosinase enzyme is the one responsible for the excess production of melanin in the skin which contributes to the appearance of the dark spots on the face. The papain enzyme present in Papaya actually helps inhibit the activity of the tyrosinase (R) enzyme, thereby aiding to get rid of age spots on face.
What to do?
- Peel a ripe papaya
- Blend it into a smooth paste
- Apply this paste on the face as a mask
- Leave it on for 20 minutes
- Wash it off with some water
How often?
- 2-3 times a week.
10. Bio Oil for Age Spots on Face
Bio Oil is the combination of a few different types and varieties of oils that have beneficial impacts in removing the appearance of dark spots and age spots on the face. The main active ingredient in this, the PurCellin Oil™, is the one which has beneficial skin repairing as well as anti-aging benefits that play a crucial role in lightening the appearance of the age spots on the face.
What to do?
- Pour a few drops of bio oil on your palm
- Massage it into the skin, emphasizing more on the age spots area
- Leave it on if you want or wash it off with some warm water
How often?
- Repeat this every for effective results
11.Yoghurt for Age Spots on Face
Yoghurt also helps in moisturizing the skin and tightening it as well to prevent any possible skin aging appearance that we struggle with.
What to do?
- Mix 2 tablespoon of yoghurt, 1 tablespoon of rolled oatmeal and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a bowl
- Make a smooth and pliable paste out of it
- Apply this on the entirety of the face
- Leave it on for 20 minutes or so
- Wash it off with water once its dried completely
How often?
- Do this 3 times a week.
12. Tomatoes for Age Spots on Face
It also imposes antioxidant properties which have beneficial impacts on getting rid of the free radicals which often times contribute to the bad skin conditions.
13. Potatoes for Age Spots on Face
What to do?
- Blend some raw peeled potatoes in a blender
- Extract the juice out of it
- Mix a tablespoon of lemon juice to the potato juice
- With a cotton pad, apply the mixture on the face, especially the area with the brown spots
- Leave it on for 10-15 minutes
- Wash it off with some water
How often?
- Repeat this every other day.
14. Horseradish for Age Spots on Face
The hotness of this specific vegetable is what helps get rid of the stubborn age spots on the skin. It is loaded with Vitamin A and C. The Vitamin C content is what helps impose beneficial antioxidant properties that get rid of the free radicals that impose the signs of aging.
The Vitamin A content is also very beneficial for the fact that it gets rid of the dead skin cells on the skin and helps boost the production of collagen on the skin, thereby healing it even further.
What to do?
- Blend the horseradish in a blender with some water
- Make a smooth paste out of it
- Add 1 teaspoon of honey to the mix
- Apply this all over the face and the affected areas with age spots
- Leave it on for 20 minutes
- Wash it off with some water
- Make sure to avoid any sensitive areas on the face like eyes and nose
How often?
Do this every other day for effective results.
15. Orange Peel for Age Spots on Face
The orange peel is very beneficial to remove age spots primarily because it helps flush out the toxins from the skin and has mild skin lightening properties as well.
What to do?
Mix 1 tablespoon of dried orange peel powder and 2 tablespoons of yoghurt
- Make a smooth paste
- Apply it on the face in an even layer
- Leave it on for 10-15 minutes
- Wash it off with some water
How often?
- 3-4 times a week.
Over the Counter Remedies
Topical application of a number of creams and ointments are actually very effective in treating age spots and for age spot removal. Since these kinds of remedies are medicated, it is necessary to ensure that you get a doctor’s prescription for the same.
Some of the effects over the counter remedies for the same include:
- Hydroquinone which is a bleaching cream
- Mild steroids
- Retinoids much like tretinoin which is an acne cream
All of these creams and ointments work through topical application and help in reducing the appearance of the age spots because of their skin lightening properties. It is necessary to understand that they won’t work overnight but need a consistent application for months to showcase effective results.
If you are opting for ointments to lighten age spots, get the ones that contain ingredients like hydroquinone, glycolic acid and kojic acid.
In – office Treatments
Now, with the common and preliminary methods of treatment to get rid of age spots, let us focus on some of the other treatments that are actually very effective in getting rid of these unwanted spots for good.
Pulsed light therapy
The pulsed light therapy or even the laser therapy help in the destruction of the melanin producing cells which is what helps in preventing the colouring of the age spots and thus make them appear lighter and faded rather than brown of blackish in colour.
These kinds of treatments require multiple sitting with the doctor for ensuring effective results.
Cryotherapy
Often known as the “freezing” technique, in this, the doctor or the experts apply any kind of freezing compound like liquid nitrogen on the area of the age spots using a cotton swab. This ends up destroying the pigment that produces the dark colour of the age spot and helps get rid it for good.
As the skin heals, the area of the brown spots lightens and appears completely normal. This is often used on the area of age spots that are not scattered and in a small portion because the liquid nitrogen like compounds often have skin damaging and irritating properties, if used extensively.
Dermabrasion
To explain it in simpler and easier terms, the technique of dermabrasion includes the careful brushing down of the upper layer of the skin (the dermal layer). A small rotating brush is applied on the upper layer of the skin where the age spots are localized. It brushes off the upper layer of the skin, allowing a new layer of skin to develop in its place.
Even this treatment requires multiple sitting with the doctor to witness the noticeable results. You might also witness redness and scabbing in the area of the treatment but they are temporary.
Chemical peel
Yet another common method to treat age spots is by using a chemical peel. In this treatment, the doctors apply a thin layer of acid on the face to get rid of the upper layer of the skin along with the age spots.
A new layer of skin grows in its place and while the application of straight up acid might seem a bit intimidating at first, it is not something that would adversely affect or burn your skin. There are a temporary presence of redness and nothing more.
What Causes Age Spots?
1. Direct Exposure to Sunlight
The direct exposure to sunlight is possibly one of the most common reasons behind the development of dark spots and age spots on the face. It is the UV rays that end up disrupting the dermal layer of the skin, thereby causing the appearance of the brown spots all over.
2. Diet and lifestyle
While many might not actually believe it, it is actually true. Diet and lifestyle plays a very crucial part in one’s skin health. If your body doesn’t have good levels of antioxidants, there are chances that your body will not have enough to combat the overgrowing presence of free radicals in your body.
Free radicals are one of the common factors that destroy skin cells and end up inducing senescence in a cell which is what induces the visible brown spots on the skin. If you have been on the lookout for a home remedy for age spots, try and opt for fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants like berries etc.
3. Avoid Fake Tans Using Tanning Beds
While fake tans and getting your skin coloured might be in the trend, the aftereffects of it are not. The tanning beds tend to make use of harmful radiation to instigate the tanning process which often tends to cause destruction of the dermal layer of the skin and alters the secretion of the melanin hormone, thereby aggravating the appearance of the skin with brown and age spots.
Try and avoid using tanning beds and rather switch to the other modes of tanning, be it with liquid tans or even the easy way of applying a waterproof foundation darker than your skin tone.
How to Prevent Age Spots?
1. Avoid Direct Sun Rays
Sun rays and the UV rays from it are the primary culprits behind the formation of age spots on the skin. If you want to keep the same at bay, it is necessary that you stay away from the sun, if possible. If not, try and use sun blockers or even wear hats and shades to avoid the direct exposure of the skin to the UV rays of the sun.
2. Eat antioxidant rich food
Yet another amazing remedy is to switch to a diet that’s rich in antioxidants because that’s what helps in getting rid of the excess levels of free radicals in the body. The reduction in the levels of free radicals helps keep the skin cells healthy and the appearance of age spots at bay. Switch up your diet with some antioxidant rich foods like berries, citrus fruits etc.
3. Clothing
Clothing is also a very crucial player in how you can prevent the brown age spots on your skin. Wearing long sleeves t-shirts and clothes help protect the skin from the harmful radiation and thus help protect the skin and prevent the development of such marks and spots all over the skin.
Age spots on face or any other part of the skin for that matter can very well be disheartening for a number of people. These are not the kind of imperfections that you can’t get rid of on your own because you very well can. I hope all of these above mentioned natural remedies for age spots will come in handy the next time you are in dire need of it.